Getting away from it all
Ah. After two weeks of difficult questioning, I felt it was time to relax. Despite the war in Iraq, I can still enjoy the California coastline guilt free. Israel is a beautiful country, and it was time to enjoy it. So after my last entry on the road to Be'er Sheva, I took two days to have fun.
The first day I spent at the Ramon Nature Reserve, home to the Ramon crater, the largest crater in the world. http://mosaic.lk.net/g-ramon.html
Clara, my travel partner, and I took a bus into a small town called Mitzpe Ramon, packed up some food, and prepared for a night stay inside the crater. We knew if would be an interesting trip when our bus failed to come after an hour wait. Instead, we hitched a ride down... with an Israeli officer. And you know what? He was awesome. Great guy. Kind, caring, interested in us and our trip, where we were from, etc. It was an important perspective.
At the bottom of the crater he dropped us off and continue on to Eilat, where he was stationed. We hiked about 6 km to the campsite. The sheer cliffs, creating beautiful hues in the setting sun, were our only company. At the campsite, we were met by Ibrahim, a Bedouin, who took care of the site. We were his only travelers in two days and he treated us to tea, Shisha, and a meal (and then, in the traditional Bedouin hospitality, charged us for all of it). But it was a good time.
This is the "Bedouin Tent" where we slept,
and a view of the sunset from the cliffs just next to our camp.
The next morning, we hitched a ride all the way back to Be'er Sheva by an American and his Israeli wife on vacation. From there, we caught a bus to Ein Gedi, one of Israel's famous nature reserves. http://www.inisrael.com/tour/eingedi/eingedi.htm
After checking into the Ein Gedi hostel, we took a quick stroll down to the dead sea to float around for a while. or those who don't know, the Dead Sea is the "lowest place on earth" according to sea level and combined with the high level of salt, you literally float in the water with zero effort. I imagine it's what it is like to be in zero gravity... with ACID EVERYWHERE.
Let me sum it up. First you float. Then you get out because it hurts like hell.
You can see the look of realization on everyone's face. Half sheer enjoyment, half frustrated pain masked in "I'm having a good time". I floated for about 30 seconds until a cut on my foot started to hurt like hell. After five minutes, I got salt water in my eye and got out. What can I say? It's an experience, but there's really no reason to stay in too long.
After a quick shower, we relaxed on the patio, and a strange feeling of Deja Vu overcame me. And then I remember, I've been here before. It was 9 years ago on my Young Judea summer trip with my confirmation class. I think we had a little "disco" night. Funny how the life or tourism repeats itself. The view from the patio at sunset was beautiful, and I had to pinch myself to realize I was really there. In Israel. Looking out over the Dead Sea into Jordan.
After a great sleep, Clara and I hiked up Ein Gedi, past "Wadi David" or David's Waterfall, and took a quick dip in the spring below. Ein Gedi is literally a mountain oasis, with a small waterfall running down from a river on the cliffs above. It has been a popular oasis of culture and development for years, and now is home to a Kibbutz and tons and tons of travelers. At the top of the hike, there is an amazing view of the Dead Sea.
Now, after another bus ride to Jerusalem, I am back in "Frontline Internet Cafe" where I updated last time. In a few minutes, I am off to Jericho to see "the oldest city in the world". Then to Haifa, where I will spend a few days.
The first day I spent at the Ramon Nature Reserve, home to the Ramon crater, the largest crater in the world. http://mosaic.lk.net/g-ramon.html
Clara, my travel partner, and I took a bus into a small town called Mitzpe Ramon, packed up some food, and prepared for a night stay inside the crater. We knew if would be an interesting trip when our bus failed to come after an hour wait. Instead, we hitched a ride down... with an Israeli officer. And you know what? He was awesome. Great guy. Kind, caring, interested in us and our trip, where we were from, etc. It was an important perspective.
At the bottom of the crater he dropped us off and continue on to Eilat, where he was stationed. We hiked about 6 km to the campsite. The sheer cliffs, creating beautiful hues in the setting sun, were our only company. At the campsite, we were met by Ibrahim, a Bedouin, who took care of the site. We were his only travelers in two days and he treated us to tea, Shisha, and a meal (and then, in the traditional Bedouin hospitality, charged us for all of it). But it was a good time.
This is the "Bedouin Tent" where we slept,
and a view of the sunset from the cliffs just next to our camp.
The next morning, we hitched a ride all the way back to Be'er Sheva by an American and his Israeli wife on vacation. From there, we caught a bus to Ein Gedi, one of Israel's famous nature reserves. http://www.inisrael.com/tour/eingedi/eingedi.htm
After checking into the Ein Gedi hostel, we took a quick stroll down to the dead sea to float around for a while. or those who don't know, the Dead Sea is the "lowest place on earth" according to sea level and combined with the high level of salt, you literally float in the water with zero effort. I imagine it's what it is like to be in zero gravity... with ACID EVERYWHERE.
Let me sum it up. First you float. Then you get out because it hurts like hell.
You can see the look of realization on everyone's face. Half sheer enjoyment, half frustrated pain masked in "I'm having a good time". I floated for about 30 seconds until a cut on my foot started to hurt like hell. After five minutes, I got salt water in my eye and got out. What can I say? It's an experience, but there's really no reason to stay in too long.
After a quick shower, we relaxed on the patio, and a strange feeling of Deja Vu overcame me. And then I remember, I've been here before. It was 9 years ago on my Young Judea summer trip with my confirmation class. I think we had a little "disco" night. Funny how the life or tourism repeats itself. The view from the patio at sunset was beautiful, and I had to pinch myself to realize I was really there. In Israel. Looking out over the Dead Sea into Jordan.
After a great sleep, Clara and I hiked up Ein Gedi, past "Wadi David" or David's Waterfall, and took a quick dip in the spring below. Ein Gedi is literally a mountain oasis, with a small waterfall running down from a river on the cliffs above. It has been a popular oasis of culture and development for years, and now is home to a Kibbutz and tons and tons of travelers. At the top of the hike, there is an amazing view of the Dead Sea.
Now, after another bus ride to Jerusalem, I am back in "Frontline Internet Cafe" where I updated last time. In a few minutes, I am off to Jericho to see "the oldest city in the world". Then to Haifa, where I will spend a few days.